Bindi Irwin on Her Father's Legacy: 'His Message Lives On in All of Us'

Bindi Irwin has known what she wanted to do with her life from a very young age.

The daughter of Australia’s "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, told ET when she was young that she wanted to be "just like my daddy," and these days, the 17-year-old is living that dream and keeping her late father’s legacy alive by continuing his work with wildlife.

"Dad is and always will be my living, breathing superhero," she told ET in an exclusive interview. "I'm very lucky to have such a beautiful family."

Irwin counts herself lucky, both for her family and the opportunity to work with "amazing creatures," like koalas, tortoises and lemurs, at the Australia Zoo.

"I'd just like to carry on in dad's footsteps," Bindi says of her plans for the future, adding that she hopes to continue her work at the zoo for years to come. "I think that dad's spirit and passion lives in every single one of us."

Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray while filming a wildlife documentary called Ocean’s Deadliest in 2006. Next September will mark the 10-year anniversary of his death.

"He always used to say that he didn't mind if people remembered him or not," Bindi remembers of her father. "He just cared if they remembered his message, and that's what we're trying to do. To make sure that his message lives on in all of us."